0489 : Valentine's Day Ring(s) (14/2/18)

I'd been paying close attention to the weather forecast for today to see if there was much chance of getting out birding. Snow and heavy rain seemed to be the default condition for most of the day over Fife and Angus. I even looked into taking the train to Edinburgh to try for Ring Necked Parakeet (around Merchiston) and Nuthatch, with a possibility of a trip out to Musselburgh as well to add a bit more variety to the day. When the alarm went off this morning, I checked the weather forecast and even Edinburgh was now forecast to get rain/snow, so I went back to sleep.

Black Headed Gull (J4U2)

I got up around lunchtime to heavy snow outside and a rather white and grey view from my window. However within a couple of hours it had relented and I decided I would take the opportunity to pop up to Swannie Ponds to look for ringed gulls and maybe something exotic (Iceland/Glaucous/Mediterranean) among them. At around 1415 I headed out. There was a coating of a couple of centimetres snow at most but the sky was still a bit grey, though temperature-wise it wasn't overly cold. There didn't seem to be any birds on the wing though. A hunched up Woodpigeon in a tree, a Herring Gull on a chimney stack and a Carrion Crow on a TV Aerial started off the list. The first birds in flight seen were a few Feral Pigeons.

A Black Headed Gull was atop a lamp post on Clepington Road and a couple of Jackdaws flew past as I headed for the ponds. Unsusrprisingly, when I got there I found them mostly frozen with a slushy look to them. A pair of Mallards stood on the path, while out on the ice stood a mix of Black Headed Gulls, Herring Gulls and a couple of Common Gulls. A single Moorhen was wandering around on the path further round. The one little area of unfrozen water had a couple of Tufted Ducks and a few Mallard on it.

I scanned through the gull flock for ringed birds and found Yellow 2CA6 first, followed soon after by White J4U2. I'd brought some food with me to try and tempt a few more birds in and it seemed to work. When I scanned again after feeding I found Green JN69 and Yellow 2XLD. All 4 are regulars in Winter at the ponds, so none was a surprise. Nor was it any real surprise that there was nothing exotic hiding among them. A single metal-ringed bird was also seen but the light wasn't great for trying to read the ring number.

I had a quick look at the lower pond where the trio of Mute Swans were, along with a single Coot, and a pair of Goosander. The mix of gulls was similar to the other pond though I failed to find any ringed birds this time. There was a Black Headed Gull with a noticeable pink flush to its underparts. I wandered back to the top pond and heard a rather quiet bird call and looked up to see where it had come from. A pair of small birds were flying over the ponds from the north and I rattled off a few photos. I was rather surprised to find that they were Meadow Pipits - regular enough in Autumn as they migrate over, but unexpected in February. Another fly-over was a single Collared Dove. A Magpie chuckled from the island before popping up onto the top branches for a minute or two. A Robin hopped around on the path.

I decided not to head for Eastern Cemetery, instead I'd go to City Quay. A Goldfinch flew over as I waited to cross the road from the ponds. In Dalkeith Road I added a few more species around the gardens - Blue Tit, House Sparrow and Blackbird, and a Starling in a tree. I heard Collared Dove from one of the gardens just before I reached the side gate to Baxter Park. I decided I might as well pop in and see if there was anything around.

There was a rather large flock of over 100 finches flying around rather restlessly and settling from time to time in the treetops. I thought they would be mostly Chaffinches and Goldfinches, but they turned out to be predominantly Linnets, with some Greenfinches, Goldfinches and at least 1 Chaffinch. A flock of Fieldfares, Redwings and Mistle Thrush flew off south down the park as I searched around for anything else I could find. Grey Squirrels could be seen in a few of the trees but other bird species proved harder to find. I did succeed in seeing a few Blackbirds and Redwings picking around among the leaf litter and a few Blue Tits by the small stream. Woodpigeons roosted up in a few trees. With the light beginning to go, owing to the still rather grey skies, I headed for home at around 1600.

A decent enough wander with 29 species seen including the unexpected Meadow Pipits and Linnets all within a mile of home on a rather unpromising looking day.

Black Headed Gull (2CA6)

Common Gull

Black Headed Gull (JN69)

Black Headed Gull (2XLD)

Coot

Goosander & Mallard

Goosander

Black Headed Gull (pink flush to breast/belly)

Black Headed Gull (2CA6)

Black Headed Gull (JN69)

Meadow Pipit

Herring Gull

Collared Dove

Herring Gull

Herring Gull

Herring Gull

Tufted Duck

Magpie

Black Headed Gull

Linnet & Goldfinch

Linnet, Goldfinch & Greenfinch

Linnet & Greenfinch

Linnet & Goldfinch

Fieldfare & Redwing

Fieldfare

Redwing

Redwing

Species seen - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Coot, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Goldfinch, Goosander, Greenfinch, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Linnet, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Redwing, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Starling, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon.

0488 : Twitching By Bus (11/2/18)

Having had such a successful outing on Saturday, I fully intended to get out again on Sunday. As I'd been on my way to try and find the Great White Egret a text alert had come in reporting a Red Crested Pochard at Kilconquhar Loch, near Elie in Fife. Having only ever seen 1 previously, at Forfar Loch a few years ago, I decided to look into the possibility of try to see it, by public transport, on a Sunday. Public transport is generally rather poor on Sunday's and I wasn't even certain that Kilconquhar was on a bus route, though I did know the 95 bus went through Elie. If need be, I could walk from there, and back, and probably visit Ruddon's Point again also.

Red Crested Pochard

As it turned out, there was a possibility of trying for it, with the number 95 actually stopping in Kilconquhar, by the church which sits on the shore of the Loch. The only possible fly in the ointment was the rather short window of just 7 minutes for catching the connection in St Andrews. All it would take to miss it, and have to wait another hour for the next one, would be a late departure or a lot of passengers trying to get on at Leuchars Rail Station both of which are fairly regular happenings on the earlier runs with folk trying to get to work. Still, I decided to risk getting the 0900 bus from Dundee, due to arrive at 0928, with the 95 due to leave at 0935. I would arrive in Kilconquhar at around 1042. I'm not keen on spending much over an hour on buses and the short time between buses would mean that it would feel like I'd be sitting on the bus for over 90 minutes. Still, needs must...

The walk to the bus station was rather productive with 11 species seen on the 15 minute walk, starting with a Blue Tit in a tree across the road and the ubiquitous Herring Gull. A flyover Magpie, a Woodpigeon on a lamp-post and the local House Sparrows were all on the list before I'd even gone as far as the closest bus stop. Feral Pigeon and Goldfinch were seen on Dens Road, followed shortly after by Starling and Blackbird. A Long Tailed Tit foraged in a tree on Dens Brae and a Pied Wagtail flew over as I walked down Princes Street.

I was able to add a few more from the bus to St Andrews with a Yellowhammer showing up really well in the early morning sunshine as it perched on a wire over a field at Pickletillum. Rooks were seen at St Michaels with a male Pheasant in a field just before. Jackdaw and Black Headed Gulls were seen in Leuchars but I failed to see Collared Dove here. I did however manage to see some in St Andrews as the bus, which I managed to catch without any hiccups along the way, headed out of the town. There was a pair of Mallards on the burn just past the harbour. A few Stock Doves and Woodpigeons were seen around the golf course just outside. A Mistle Thrush was added as the bus passed Boarhills.

The first Buzzard of the day was seen near Kingsbarns and a field on the way into Crail had a flock of Fieldfares visible in. I'd also seen a flock of what were probably Linnets perched up on wires near Cambo. Cormorants were seen stood out on rocks at Anstruther. Curlews and a flock of smaller birds were seen as the bus passed the farm just outside St Monans where Corn Buntings are usually easy to see in winter. After what seemed an eternity the bus arrived in Kilconquhar though the driver didn't hear me ring the bell, or see me stood beside his seat waiting to get off, so he drove past the stop meaning a slightly longer walk for me.

Having had confirmation that the Red Crested Pochard had been seen that morning by Willie Irvine, I decided to head first to Barnyard's Marsh to look for Snipe and unsurprisingly found quite a few in the rather soggy site, though probably just slightly fewer than on Wednesday's visit. A small group of Greylag Geese flew over and in addition to the local Jackdaws a few Carrion Crows were seen. Around 1100 I headed out of the village en route for the Fife Bird Club hide set at the water's edge in the trees to the southwest of the village. A Long Tailed Tit and a Blue Tit were seen in the trees at the last house by the road and a Great Tit was in the hedge opposite. I had a quick look at the part of the Loch I could see, adding Mute Swan, Coot and Goldeneye to the list for the day.

A Robin flew ahead of me and a pair of Blue Tits were feeding atop the hedge by the bend in the road. A Chaffinch flew over as I walked down to the wood. I managed to miss the track to the hide but a slight detour ensured I got there in the end. Inside I found Willie Irvine and my birding pal Jacqui who I hadn't seen for a few months. They'd seen the bird but it had swum into a small inlet off to the left. I had a look around getting Teal, Tufted Duck, Pochard and Tufted Duck for the day list. Eventually the Red Crested Pochard swam into view and onto my list (at least provisionally - it could yet show a ring indicating an escaped 'captive' bird from a wildfowl collection somewhere, meaning it wouldn't 'count').

Jacqui decided she would head for home as she had things to do, so rather than my original plan to walk to Ruddon's Point before another long tedious journey by bus back to St Andrews then another back to Dundee (or maybe Guardbridge first) I asked if I could get a lift back with her to Guardbridge. Thankfully she said "yes". We were able to add another couple of species to my list on the way back, while catching up on recent news etc, with a surprise Stonechat on a fence by the road and a Kestrel hovering over a large garden of a large house. A mixed flock of Fieldfares, Redwings and Chaffinches were in another field near where we saw the Stonechat.

Jacqui dropped me off in Guardbridge at 1200 and I headed into the empty hide. The mud opposite wasn't fully covered though the tide seemed to be at the point where it wasn't coming and it wasn't going. Tree Sparrows were seen on the feeders before I got organised and started to scan out across the river to where the birds were all congregated. There were plenty of Lapwings with Shelduck beyond. A small party of Wigeon were on the water behind them. A flock of sleeping Redshanks harboured a single Dunlin and a couple of Black Tailed Godwits. Along the rear edge of the mud were a few Oystercatchers.

The gull flock was all Black Headed and Herring Gulls, though I tried hard to find a Common Gull or something better amongst them, to no avail. A Grey Heron was spotted over by the pools opposite the hide. I was joined in the hide by a female birder/photographer, and we chatted a little about camera gear and birds while not much happened outside. A Dunnock showed below the feeders and a Grey Wagtail flew across the river. A Great Black Backed Gull circled round a few times a short while later. I found a few Brent Geese out at the point off Coble Shore. Angus Duncan arrived and minutes later, Harry Spence. The increased noise of the chat across the hide between Harry and Angus seemed to hasten the departure of the lady birder and it did make for a challenge when trying to pick out bird calls outside.

It was around an hour before anything else was added to the list when I picked up a distant Sparrowhawk towards the base. A Common Gull flew upriver before a flock of Linnets flew past not long after Harry left. The Wren appeared among the rocks in front of the hide and a Coal Tit showed up at the feeders. We had distant views of a Kestrel and a couple of Buzzards a bit closer. Angus left and I was joined by another couple of hide regular photographers and then a trio of older (novice) birders.

Just before they arrived I'd seen a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers chase each other around the trunk of one of the trees outside by the feeders and I did eventually succeed in hearing and then seeing one of them again which everyone at least managed to glimpse. Another Sparrowhawk gave closer views and I tried using the Olympus EE-1 (properly set up) sight to track and photograph the bird with decent enough results. A Carrion Crow made a determined effort to gain access to the inside of a Mussel and a distant Magpie was spotted in a tree by the old fuel tanks south of the base. I left for home around 1620 though I failed to add anything new on the way home.

59 species seen (year tick in bold) in a strange sort of day with the main target bird being seen at the end of what felt like a long bus journey followed by a much quicker journey back to sit and see what I could find at Guardbridge. Enjoyable enough though.

Snipe

Snipe

Greylag Geese

Mute Swan

Red Crested Pochard

Pochard & Red Crested Pochard

Black Tailed Godwit, Dunlin & Redshank

Goldeneye

Goldeneye

Great Black Backed Gull

Redshank, Dunlin & Black Tailed Godwit

Buzzard

Mallard

Kestrel

Redshank

Teal

Teal

Teal

Teal

Carrion Crow

Carrion Crow

Curlew

Redshank

Curlew

Redshank

Linnet

Mallard

Sparrowhawk

Sparrowhawk

Cormorant

Grey Heron

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Black Backed Gull

Magpie

Species seen - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Black Tailed Godwit, Blue Tit, Brent Goose, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Coot, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Great Black Backed Gull, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Lapwing, Linnet, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Mistle Thrush, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Pochard, Red Crested Pochard, Redshank, Redwing, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Shelduck, Snipe, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Stonechat, Teal, Tree Sparrow, Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.